Adrien prolhac



(R0 Mod e1.)

A. PROLHAG, FILS. REVERSING VALVE FOR ENGINES.

E ME. .\\N\W\ xv E MN E Patented Aug. 27, 1895.

iln'rrnn STATES ATENT ADRIEN PROLHAO, FILS, OF ALLFGRE, FRANCE.

REVERSlNG-VALVE FOR ENGINES.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,132, dated August 27, 1895.- Application filed June 22,1895. Serial No. 553,679- (No model.) Patented in France January 22, 1895, No. 244,527.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADRIEN PROLHAC, File,

.a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Allegro, in France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Reversing-Valves for Fluid-Pressu re Engines, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in France, No. 244,527, dated January 22, 1895, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to reversing-valves for fluid-pressure engines. The ordinary reversing-gear of steam-engines cannot be employed to work in combination with continuous rotary valve-gear which was the subject of my specification of application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 553,046, filed June 17, 1895. I have therefore devised, to enable such rotary valves to be used on engines which are to run reversely, a special mechanism which is the subject of the present application, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the steam-cylinder of an engine to which is applied my new reversing-gear in combination with continuous rotary valvegear. Fig. 2 is a general plan of the entire arrangement shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial cross-section on the line X Y of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a cross-section and end view on line X Y of Fig 1; and Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional plans of a detail of Figs. 1 and 4, hereinafter particularly referred to.

My continuous rotary valve-gear A, described in the specification of the hereinbefore-mentioned application, provided with its characteristic internal devices and not constituting the main feature of the present invention, is mounted on the steam-cylinder B in such manner as to permit also the mounting on the same cylinder, above the ports 0 C of its passages D D, of a cylindrical box or case E pierced through its lower side with two ports F F, arranged so as to communi cate and correspond accurately with those D D of the steam-cylinder B, but each divided into two equal parts. The case E is provided with a central partition H, which divides it into two similar circular chambers I I and is prolonged downward to divide each port F F.

On the inside wall of the case E the ports F F are separated by a solid bar G, whereof the width :1: in the present example is exactly equal to that .r of each of the said ports F F.

The compartments I 1 of the case E correspond each to one end of each of the two ports F F". The compartments are closed at their outer ends by covers J J, and at the upper sides communicate with the pipes or passages K K, respectively, which latter communicate with the corresponding parts L L of the similar compartments M M of the distributing-valve casing A by the pipes N N.

In each compartment I I of the box F. are arranged circular disks P P, mounted so as to be capable of rotating therein with slight friction and keyed on spindles O O, respect ively, of which spindles the outer ends project through the covers J J, while their other ends, facing each other in the center, are journaled in the central partition H. The said disks are respectively provided on their lower sides with flanges Q Q turned toward the central partition H, and of such circumferential length that during the angular movement of the said disks P P the ends of such flanges never travel so far as to uncover at any one time the two parts of either of the ports F, the two parts to mean the halves of the opening, which are the one on one side and the other on the opposite side of the partition H in the wall of the box E, against which wall these flanges Q Q are adjusted to move with gentle friction. The flanges Q Q are each pierced in the middle of their length with a port S or S", respectively, of a breadth a)", which in the present instance is equal to that a: as of the ports F F and of the intermediate solid bar G, in combination with which these ports work. Thus arranged the ports 8 and S of the flanges Q Q (equal in length and width to the ports F F of the box F.) have each taking into consideration that F F are separated by the width of the dividing partition G (or H)a length y less than half that of the ports 0 C of the steam-cylinder 13-11 6., that by moving the disks P P through a small angle the said steam-ports G G can each be put in communication at will with either one or the other of the compartment I or the compartment 1 of the box Et'. e., either port with one compartment and the other port with the other compartment. For the purbeing here understood pose of producing such angular oscillating movements to and fro of the disks P P, the free extremity of the spindle O of one disk P outside the box E carries secured to it the socket ot a lever-arm T, whereof the downward end is jointed at T to a horizontal longitudinal rod U, Figs. 2 and 4, prolonged forward (toward the crank-shaft) at U to the part where the maneuver is effected, and backward (toward the cylinder end) at U, so as to be jointed at this point to another leverarm V, having its upper end secured to a counter-shaft V held and rotating in bearings and used for operating the other disk P. At its opposite end (toward the other side of the apparatus) this counter-shaft V carries keyed upon it a toothed sector V, arranged to gear with a similar toothed sector of equal diameter and pitch with the sector W, keyed outside the box E and on the outer end of the spindle O of the disk P. From these arrangements of rod, levers, and toothed sectors for manipulating the disks it follows that the disks will simultaneously rotate over equal distances, but in opposite directions to each other, in the compartments I I of the box E; and that for each of'the extreme positions of the longitudinal rod U-the oneforward, the other backward-the disks P P will assume one of their two corresponding opposite positions, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 5 and 6.

For the extreme position, forward, of the rod U represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 4:, the angular movement of the disk P, in compartment I, will have taken place from front to rear-i. c., from left to right of Fig.1 or 2and the said disk'having reached its extreme posi-' tion in that direction, its port S will exactly coincide with that part of the port F opening into the same compartment I of the box E. On the other hand, and simultaneously, the angular movement of the disk P in the compartment I will have taken place in the op.- posite direction to the preceding-z'. a, from rear to front or from right to left-and in the extreme position of the disk on this side its port S will exactly coincide with the part of the port F opening into the same compartment 1 of the box IE. These two extreme positions of the disks P P for the extreme forward position of the longitudinal lever U are clearly shown in Fig. 5.

From the foregoing it follows that for the extreme rearward position of the rod U the angular movements of the disks P P will take place simultaneously in contrary directions the one to the other, but inversely to the preceding case2'. c., that the one disk P Will have turned from left to right and brought its port into exact coincidence with the part of the port F opening out into compartmentI, while the disk P will have turned from right to left and brought its port S into exact coincidence with the part of the port F opening into the compartment 1. These two extreme posirearward position of lever U, are clearly represented in Fig. 6. It results therefore from these arrangements that for a given position of the crank-say,- for instance, the upper position for a l0comotive-the position of the organs, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4E, and 5, will correspond to the movement of the piston to the right, the steam conducted by the admission-pipe A being at this moment distributed from the compartment M of the distributingvalve, thus to pass by the passages L, pipe N, passage K, compartment I of box E, port S, and disk P, corresponding and coincident part of port F in box IE, and, lastly, to enter into the steam-cylinder B by the port 0 and passage D and act upon the rear face of the pis-.

ton IV. During this admission of the live steam to the rear of the piston the exhauststeam, having previously acted upon the opposite face of the piston, escapes by other passages D, port 0, corresponding part of port F of box E, corresponding port S of disk P, compartment I of the distributing-valve A and exhaust-pipe A of the distributer (or valve-box) A. The same position of the crank being assumed, for consideration, to produce the back stroke of the motor it; will suffice to place the aforesaid rod U in its farthestposition backwardi. e., to the left of Fig. l-which will. have as its result, as previously explained, to place the disks P P in the box E in the position shown in Fig. 6, which will thus realize, as will easily be understood, the reversal, as compared with what has preceded it, of the direction of the steam and exhaust and consequent working of the engine. The reversal of the course of the steam being thus brought about, the steam distribution will naturally continue its usual coursei. e., the compartments M M of the distribution-valve A and the corresponding compartments I I of the box E realizing in succession, by their mutual combination and that of their internal organs, the admission and subsequent exhaust of the steam to and from each piston-face.

I claim- 1. A reversing-apparatus for fluid-pressure engines, consisting in the combination with a distribution-device in which a rotary valve is employed and which has tubes appropriated one to the passage of fluid to and fro between one end of the engine cylinder and said distribution device and the other appropriated for the other end, of a valve-casing having a central partition dividing it into two chambers and having its wall in each chamber perforated with a set of ports to connect said chamber with both ends of the engine cylinder, and also perforated with two passages one at each side of the partition each individually appropriated to one of the aforesaid tubes, a valve in each said chamber to control the said set of ports therein, and means IOC for operatively connecting the said valves reversely with each other and with an operating-rod, substantially as set forth.

2. A reversing-apparatus for fluid-pressure engines, consisting in the combination with a distribution-device in which a rotary valve is employed and which has tubes appropriated one to the passage of the fluid to and fro between one end of the engine cylinder and said distribution-device and the other appropriated for the other end of a valve-casing having a central partition dividing it into two chambers, and having its wall in each chamber perforated with a set of ports to connect said chamber with both ends of the engine cylinder and also perforated with two passages one at each side of the partition, each individually appropriated to one of the aforesaid tubes, a disk with a perforated flange on a spindle in each chamber to control the said set of ports therein, toothed sectors on these spindlesoperat-ively connected'with each other and an operating-rod therefor, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my hand in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

A. PROLHAC, FILS. Witnesses:

EDOUARD POL, ALBERT LEVASSEUR. 

